The Dark Lady
Chapter 8 – The Holding Room
By graice5412


You guys are all wonderful and I send you Christmas cheer –

Kendra is cheese,
JKIJ,
Evil Penguin Slayer,

A/N – Merry Christmas to you all! Hope you have a good one!


The doors opened and a chill washed over them as they entered.

"Soon to be dead? What do you mean? I thought they were just going to the Dementors."

"They are, just not these ones. We're sending them all to America where the wizards still call capital punishment. The Dementor's kiss there will kill them." The key-holder explained.

"What?" Hermione shrieked, before stopping clearing her throat and staring again. "I mean, I didn't think Dumbledore would allow something like that. When are they going?"

"About two months or so I think."

"Wow, that's quick."

"Well the Minister has some connections over there apparently."

Hermione turned away so he couldn't see the anger of her expression while she composed herself once more. She finally looked around, the room looked like a morgue with all the walls lined with the steel doors, each holding a body. It had the same creepy feeling about it that sent a chill down your spine, although that may have just been the lack of heat in the room.

"What's with the lack of heat?" Hermione asked in a hushed voice.

"They're only bodies, who cares if they're a little chilly or not?" The key-holder laughed,

"I suppose so. Mind if I take a look at one?" Hermione asked walking to the nearest of the little doors. It had a number and a name printed in black capitals across it.

"Promise you're not one of the ones who knows how to wake them up?" He asked half joking.

"I promise." Hermione smiled at him and yanked on the cold handle. The door opened and the tray that held the body rolled out.

"So you don't know the other three people with the other key or the spells then?" She asked as she looked down on the body. It was Blaise Zabini. She vaguely remembered him from potions classes with Slytherin at Hogwarts.

"No. It'd be pretty stupid if I did right? You never know who might find out about me and try to get the information out of me. The little I know the better."

"I guess so. But there are people who know all four of you right?" Hermione asked hopefully.

"Yeh, of course, about three or four I think." The key-holder said, joining her by the body.

Hermione pushed Blaise back into his little metal prison and made a silent promise to get each of them out of there. "Come on we best go."

"So thanks, erm, well I don't know your name so just thanks I guess." She said went they arrived back at the Medical room.

"Yeh Hermione. I guess I'll see you around the House." He said and walked away.

Malfoy,

I have made excellent progress and have already put a face to one of the key-holders. He's young and trusting. Looks easy enough to break. He told me he knows about three or four people who would be able to give us the names of the other three people. We shall arrange a meeting discuss his capture very soon, as we now have a deadline to work against.

Apparently in just two months al the captured deatheaters will be taken to America to be killed. We will still be able to do it of course. I am letting no one kill my army. This just means we shall do it sooner rather than later.

In lighter news the 'good' Hermione is surfacing less, only four times this week, so far. And adding to spirits is the fact that I have made Pothead and Weasel fall out. I am hoping that their petty little differences will distract them long enough for me to put a plan into action.

And if all goes to plan I shall be out of this insufferable place soon.

I shall owl you soon with times for the meeting,

Your Lady,

H. Granger

Hermione sent the letter quickly after writing it, not wanting it to be left around for prying eyes to read. That would screw up all their plans. Just minutes later she received a reply.

Mistress,

You news is both good and bad, but a small amount of relief has come over the House. We are making progress and as long as we capture this man soon we shall have it all done easily in two months.

I have appointed trainers for the three boys, two are doing extremely well although the third is not making much progress. He cannot seem to get his head around the spells. I shall, of course, give him some lessons myself.

We await your further instruction,

Your Loyal Servant,

Draco Malfoy

It was just ten minutes later that Hermione experienced another 'change'. She was alone in her room reading through Draco's letter once more before she wrote a reply.

Her vision blurred and her head whirled. Tightly gripping the desk edge she felt the glamour she had been wearing drop and watched as her hair turned from black to its old brown, wavy self. She took a few short breaths before glancing around. Her eyes fell to the letter in her hand and memory flooded back to her.

"Harry" I've got to get Harry!" She told her self and started down the hall to his room. She got to his door and knocked

"Just a second! It's locked I need to find the key!" He called. She waited patiently for a few moments before a hand reached out and grabbed her. She was sharply turned around.

"Malfoy! You shouldn't be here!" she hissed.

"Well nether should you love but we both are." He shrugged and brought an elbow into her face. She fell back but he caught her and picked her up in a fireman's lift. He carried her away just in time, as Harry opened his door just as Malfoy rounded the corner.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Hermione yelled as he set her down in her room.

"I'm stopping you from wreaking my Mistress's work and screwing up everything my whole family has worked for!"

"B-but you can't do this!" She wailed.

"Ah but that's the beauty of it. We can and we will."

"What happens if I come back and the other me doesn't?" she asked defiantly.

"Oh don't worry that won't happen. You wouldn't win out Lady will come back."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Just look at you! Go on look!" He said and pushed her in front of the mirror. "Look at you, you're exhausted. Bags under eyes, pale skin, and hair limp you've got no chance. It's just you're stupid petty little hope that wonder boy will come and save you like he always has. Well guess what? That ain't going to happen this time. Even if he did work out what had happened the only way to stop it is to kill both of you."

"No you're lying!" Hermione yelled bursting into tears.

"Oh god!" Draco moaned turning away "Stop being pathetic."

Hermione gasped and keeled over. Again, her eyes flashed red then black. Her hair turned back and became shorter and straighter. She let out a breath and stood up again a smirk playing on her lips.

"Bloody goody-two shoes types really do get annoying don't they?"